Approval ratings of the United States continue to rise, but some experts question the significance of the results and the positive role of public diplomacy in American foreign policy. A recent study by the German Marshall Fund suggests that Europe increasingly views the United States in a positive light, reports The New York Times.

US approval ratings have significantly increased throughout the first year of President Barack Obama's administration, with figures of 75 percent in France and 69 percent in Great Britain. In an interview with Slovakia's US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Keith Eddins, The Slovak Spectator mentions that 77 percent of respondents in the European Union and Turkey support President Barack Obama's foreign policy approach.

Eddins believed that the change in European public opinion is due to a "willingness on the part of the US to engage and take into account the views of our allies in a way that highlights the importance that President Obama puts on consensus."

The Obama administration is making public diplomacy a priority in the formation and implementation of US foreign policy. Art Woodrow at Blogger News Network reports that the State Department's 2009 budget is 11.456 billion dollars. A significant amount of the sum will be distributed to various public diplomacy initiatives, exchange programs, and the development of information technology.

News Blaze reports that Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith McHale discussed the benefits of public diplomacy in a speech at the launch of the Public Diplomacy Cooperative on September 27. She introduced the concept of the "whole of government approach," in which public diplomacy activities are directly linked to US foreign policy.

McHale believs that America must build credibility, trust, and relationships through public diplomacy efforts. She asserted, "We cannot allow America to be defined by its military actions alone." McHale's words are echoed by other US officials. In another speech, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listed the "three Ds" of US engagement: defense, diplomacy, and development.

While the administration continues to tout public diplomacy initiatives, some experts advise to take the recent poll numbers with a grain of salt. Although Eddins remains supportive of the Obama administration's accomplishments, he admitted, "I never want to read too much into a single data point."

At The New York Times, John R. Miller takes a more negative view. Miller points out that the United States' standing in the world has always been relatively low. He attributes the negative trend to the fact that the United States is a world power, and that other countries view any world power with envy and resentment. Miller observes, "Public opinion, it seems, is driven less by current events or decisions than by a deep resentment of America's powerful status."

At The Irish Examiner, Stephen King is in agreement with Miller's overall assessment. He labels the European opinion of the United States as "neurotic," driven by either sentiment or resentment. He recalls the demonizing of former President Bush and describes the current European perspective as "Obamamania."

Lamenting the general inability to get a "cool, factual grip" concerning views of the US, King calls upon critics of the US to re-assess their opinions. Short of an alternative to US power, he points out, "either the United States will act or no one will."

John Miller states that President Obama's only concern should be whether favorable pubic opinion abroad will help him achieve America's own goals. He adds, "There is little evidence that that is the case."

However, Keith Eddins disagrees with dismissing the results of the new polls: "You naturally are able to do more things with your allies when you are more popular. And whether we talk about Afghanistan... or the radar system, we obviously understand that part of our policy efforts are dependent on how we are perceived."